Is autopilot worth the extra money?

  • okey
    Posts: 2
    April 14, 2003 at 7:49 am #1232086

    A friend and I where having a discussion whether it’s worth it. I thought the copilot a better way to go . or doesn’t it matter just get a regular trolling motor. thanks

    Snagger
    Owatonna, MN
    Posts: 184
    April 14, 2003 at 11:06 am #264037

    Auto pilot is the way to go. I would never go back to a convetional trolling motor. I had a chance to use my new Copilot this last Saturday and it worked great. I would suggest getting a auto/ Copliot trolling motor. Good luck!

    crossin_eyes
    Lakeville, MN
    Posts: 1379
    April 14, 2003 at 1:34 pm #264052

    Last year i bought a new Minn Kota motor. I too debated the Auto Pilot vs. Power drive. My old motor had auto pilot but it rarley ever worked. Even though I’m sure they are more reliable now, I decided to save the $200 and go without the auto pilot. I’m glad I did. My Power Drive works great and there’s nothing I need to worry about breaking down. My 2 cents.

    Good Fishin’
    Crossin

    MFO
    Minneapolis, MN
    Posts: 1451
    April 14, 2003 at 1:54 pm #264055

    It’s all a matter of your own preference. I fish a lot and love the feature. Others I know only get out a few times a year and don’t need/use it.

    jon_jordan
    St. Paul, Mn
    Posts: 10908
    April 14, 2003 at 2:08 pm #264057

    If you use the motor to troll with (Rather than positioning on one spot)it’s a nice feature. But like CrossingEyes said, the AutoPilot feature has a poor track record. Not sure if they have it figured out….

    Jon J.

    suzuki
    Woodbury, Mn
    Posts: 18625
    April 14, 2003 at 2:48 pm #264059

    I depend on mine. Tracking a direction keeps me on line much longer when fishing a shoreline or drop. I can’t imagine not having it. Mine has worked well for 5 seasons.

    James Holst
    Keymaster
    SE Minnesota
    Posts: 18926
    April 14, 2003 at 3:34 pm #264063

    Heck, I thought they had it figured out…. my first 3 auto-pilots worked flawlessly now the last two have been dead out of the box regarding the a/p feature. My current a/p feature never worked… just spun in circles.

    When it works, it works well. Just like anything else, when it doesn’t, it’s a real pain.

    rippinpigs
    Apple Valley, MN
    Posts: 399
    April 14, 2003 at 3:46 pm #264065

    I have the same problem with mt AP… it just spins in circles. I’ve heard the way to correct this is getting the internal compass replaced. Who knows. When it did work… I loved it.

    jeffsedlmayr
    Wisconsin
    Posts: 272
    April 14, 2003 at 11:33 pm #264112

    ours works just fine and it is awesome.

    sednerb
    Mount Vernon, IA
    Posts: 52
    April 15, 2003 at 12:34 am #264121

    I bought a new boat this year, which had an a/p on it. My old boat had a power drive on it, which worked great, but on windy and crowded days its been nice to have the a/p feature, especially when you’ve got a fish on the line. I’m hoping it holds up for me, I wasn’t aware the a/p’s had a bad track record. I do think the co-pilot would be nice to have on occasion, I just wish they would have done something a little different with the speed setting. As far as I could tell, there wasn’t any, it was either on or off. Anyone feel free to let me know if I’m wrong, or if there’s a trick to it, I could see myself purchasing one in the future.
    SEDNERB

    jon_jordan
    St. Paul, Mn
    Posts: 10908
    April 15, 2003 at 12:51 am #264124

    Wowa, wow and how did you miss it!!!

    The speed setting on the Co-Pilot is Sweeeeet!!! Better than the pedal. As I counted 10 different settings. Man, if no other reason to get one that is it!!!

    Here is a pix of the controll unit. The + and – buttons are the speed control. The ones below are left and right, the one in the middle is on off.

    Jon J.

    MFO
    Minneapolis, MN
    Posts: 1451
    April 15, 2003 at 12:52 am #264125

    The speed is adjustable up and down.

    bill_cadwell
    Rochester, Minnesota
    Posts: 12607
    April 15, 2003 at 2:21 am #264146

    Autopilot sure is a nice feature to have. Great when casting or trolling. Thanks, Bill

    okey
    Posts: 2
    April 15, 2003 at 9:41 am #264169

    wow a lot of great info . I realy appreciate every ones effort to keep it clean on this site . I never see any bad attitudes or bashing some one else great job guys keep it up . thanks for the in put.

    mustbefishing
    Ladysmith, WI
    Posts: 142
    April 17, 2003 at 3:38 pm #264426

    I used to sell trolling motors at a local sporting goods store. It seemed to me from talking to customers, it was a love/hate thing. Either they loved them or they hated them. There is an electronic compass inside and if that goes, the AP feature goes wrong in a hurry. If that held up, the folks loved them and couldn’t survive without it. If not, they “would never use one again”. Overall, I would say more people had great experiences with the AP.

    fishhead
    Chaska
    Posts: 215
    April 18, 2003 at 11:17 am #264508

    I have had three Auto Pilots and i don’t think I will buy another one.The first one worked awsome!It would do exactly wht it claimed.You could point it up stream and it would hold you in that position and constantle adjusted its positon.The last two were junk.They just didn’t work very well.Both of them had the problem of spinning.I took the last one back and had the compass replaced and as it doesn’t spin anymore,it still does not work adjust its direction fast enough.I think they are using cheaper parts these days.If they worked like the earlier models they would be a great benefit.

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